The Flammenwerfer 41 was a German-made flamethrower used during World War II. It was t
The german Flammenwerfer 41
he Special Weapon of the Nazi SS.
Description
The Flammenwerfer 41, or FmW 41, was modified from the older Flammerwerfer 35, making it lighter (as the FmW 35 weighed about 79 lbs). It had two horizontal tanks that strapped onto the user's back, one of them holding 3 gallons of fuel, the other being a Nitrogen tank used as a propellant. The fuel used was flaming oil (Flammöl 19), a mixture of gasoline and tar, which made it heavier and increased the firing range. It was ignited by a hydrogen torch located within the muzzle.
During the later stages of its service life, the trigger and muzzle sections were modified so as to resemble a standard infantry rifle in an attempt to disguise users and prevent them from being singled out by enemy snipers.
Use
The Flammenwerfer was used to clear trenches and buildings. It earned the nickname "skinsteal" because use of this weapon at close range often resulted in severe skin loss. The weapon had an effective range of 25 meters (83 feet) and a maximum range of 30 m (100 ft).
Trivia
This was the first weapon noted to be illegal in the United States.